#532 Greetings from the MU
Bertie writes:
I was very disappointed last week, the thought of all those loaves had my whiskers twitching, but there was no sign of even a crumb. 😒. This Sunday looks far more promising. Those wonderful members of the Mothers Union will be out in force to celebrate 150 years of the organisation, so I am sure they will be kind to a humble soul such as myself and provide a morsel of sustenance from their celebration lunch. I hear that Mthr Jane will be presiding at the service, so that is another thing to look forward to. See you all there!
This Sunday: showing Christ’s love
At St Paul’s, the Parish Mass this Sunday is focusing particularly on the Mothers’ Union. Our first reading is from the Epistle to the Ephesians, where St Paul speaks of comprehending the love of Christ (Ephesians 3.14-24).
Our Gospel reading shows us Jesus preaching about being salt and light in the world, showing the world what we have received through the love of God (Matthew 5.13-16).
Image: Mary Sumner, the founder of the Mothers’ Union
Services this Sunday
| 9.30am | St Paul’s | Parish Mass | Mthr Jane Kraft |
| Organ prelude: Elevazione – Domenico Zipoli Communion Music: Prière (op. 158) – Camille Saint-Saëns (arr. Setchell) Voluntary: Postlude on ‘Blaenwern’ – Richard Elfyn Jones | |||
| 10am | Woosehill Church | Holy Communion | Revd Wes Hampton |
| 11am | St Nicholas’ | Community Eucharist | Revd Helen Charlton |
| 6.15pm | Woosehill Church | Be Still contemplative service | Revd Wes Hampton |
August Organ Recital
On Sunday 16 August our organist, Christopher Cipkin, will be giving an organ recital at St Paul’s. The recital will cover 300 years of music from England and North America by Burney, SS Wesley, WT Best, Darke, Carter, Bédard, and Groom te Velde.
Retiring collection for the organ fund. Refreshments will be served at the end of the concert.
Rochester Cathedral
Saturday, 26th September 2026 – Choir singing Evensong at Rochester Cathedral – 3.15pm.
As ever, the choir would really appreciate members of the congregation joining us and a coach is being organised. It will leave Wokingham at 9.15 am arriving in Rochester at approx. 11.15 am and leave Rochester at 5.30 pm arriving back in Wokingham at 7.30 pm approx.
The cost will be somewhere between £22.00 and £30.00 for adults, £10.00 for Children.
There will be a sign-up sheet at the back of church or you can email Rhoda at rhoda297@gmail.com.
This week’s calendar: I’m done on this side
On 10 August the Church celebrates St Laurence, a deacon of the Church in Rome who was martyred in the third century. According to tradition, when ordered to surrender the Church’s treasures, Laurence presented the poor and vulnerable people in his care, declaring that they were its true riches. His feast reminds us that the wealth of the Church is found not in possessions or prestige, but in faithful service, generous love and care for those whom the world too easily overlooks.
There is also a well-known story that, as he was being martyred on a gridiron, Laurence joked to his executioners, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!”. He is a reminder that even in suffering, faith can be marked by courage, hope, and even a touch of humour.
Image: St Lawrence distributing the treasures of the Church by Bernardo Strozzi
